Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has pardoned Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2014 for stealing a chicken and eggs. Olowookere’s co-defendant, Sunday Morakinyo, received a similar pardon.
The case gained widespread attention after Olowookere’s parents, in an interview with Nigerian actress Biola Adebayo, claimed their son was wrongfully arrested and convicted. They alleged that police officers demanded a bribe of N30,000 for his release, but they could only raise N20,000. This interview sparked public outcry and calls for justice.
In response to the public outcry, Governor Adeleke directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to investigate the matter. Subsequently, the governor exercised his prerogative of mercy, granting pardons to Olowookere, Morakinyo, and 51 other inmates, following recommendations from the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
Olowookere and Morakinyo were arrested in 2010 for allegedly robbing a poultry farm, with arms reportedly recovered from them. In December 2014, they were convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to death by hanging, as the offence carried a mandatory death penalty in Osun State at the time.
Governor Adeleke’s decision to pardon these individuals has been met with mixed reactions. While some commend the governor for addressing potential miscarriages of justice, others express concern over the implications for the state’s legal system and the enforcement of law and order.
